Loving my mom from integrity

This painting was made at the most recent Painting your relationship to your parents workshop with this question in mind: “How can I celebrate my mom from a place of power and authenticity?”

I meet her simplicity with my nuance and coax out a richer spectrum.

Oh how much I’ve longed for the in-between colors.

As I walk towards the pure love you speak of
my sense of ground begins to leave me

I can’t see the shadows we cast

It’s unnerving, enraging
to be more in contact with your perception of goodness than my own

sigh of relief

I’m starting to sense my own solidity

My fire! My cave!

Now I can create and perceive from my depths.

Now my love can be true
instead of abandoning me
to see like you.

Mom, my role isn’t to just make you feel good about yourself.
It’s to tell you the truth even if it’s hard and uncomfortable.
Because that’s what it means to look out for your best interest and mine.
I’m not here to maintain a perfect “love” bubble of flattery.
Bubbles are fragile. They will get popped.